Last year when I was making hypertufa containers, I tried to make a hand to hold succulents like I had seen on Pinterest.
I broke my fingers. It was not pretty.
But, I wasn't going to let losing a few fingers keep me from my dream, so this year I decided to try again.
I used Playtex gloves as my hand form. And my gloves came with free flower seeds. Score!
I sprayed the inside of the glove with Pam cooking spray (named after me, because I'm so slick).
And wound up this florist wire onto a pencil to make these little corkscrew thingies and stuffed them in each finger (sort of like using rebar when they pour a concrete slab)
See my post on hypertufa containers for the recipe and safety instructions for making basic hypertufa. Since I wanted to make my hands super strong this time, I altered that recipe by doubling the amount of Portland cement used for this project.
I mixed up my hyertufa and stuffed the glove with the mixture, taking extra care to squish it down to the tips of the fingers.
After it was fairly full, I put tiny pin pricks in the end of each finger (of the gloves, not my own fingers) to let out a little trapped air and allow the fingers to be completely filled.
I put the filled glove in a plastic bag and let it cure for 7 days.
After it had cured, I used a razor knife to cut the glove off of it. Razors are sharp. Please do not cut yourself.
A slightly curved hand would have made a better planting surface, but I sort of like the hand coming out of the ground look!
It's very Addams Family-ish! In a cute way.
Karen
Sorry about spelling big fingers
Michelle
This is tooooooo cute
Karen
Vrty nice would like to mske a foot do you think the toe socks they sell would work?
Pam
That sounds like a fun idea!!! If you can find some that are a tight enough weave that the mixture won't leak out that might work. Or try spraying them with a heavy duty waterproofing spray like you'd use on your boots?
Beth
Can you leave them out in the snow or do they need to be stored for winter?
Pam
I've taken them out of the dirt and stored them in the garage for the winter. I live in Ohio though and we can have a lot of freezing and thawing each winter, so I'm paranoid they'll crack.
Diane
I read an article from someone in Ohio, they said they wintered some pots under a sheltered deck and left some outside (raised, not on the ground, sitting in water and snow) and the pots out in the open survived better than the sheltered ones!
Christine S
Thanks for the tutes! And the hoots (of laughter!) I loved the fingerless ooops! moment. I think I will make some hands using concrete colorant for Halloween!! I have been trying to find some of these type planters for some small red maple trees I am growing. I really like The Rustic look that yours have, even though that wasn't your intention. That's the look I'm going for. I couldn't find any so I greatly appreciate the recipe you provided. I'm heading to the store this morning to get my supplies. Thanks again!!
Pam
You are welcome!!! Hope you enjoy making them!
diyhypertufa
Thanks for sharing this great tutorial Pam!! 🙂
I've just posted a link to this on my DIY hypertufa blog.
Anonymous
Well Pam!, your just the type of person I need for my gardening ideas ! I like to have things in the garden that are new to the eye, not the everyday garden store elf, this hand has really caught my eye and I can't wait to try it! Thanks for ingenuity you have !
Anonymous
your hand tuned out awesome, love the idea of putting wire in the fingers for extra support.
Jennifer BNHblog
Wow, what a great idea! I love the look. Good for you for sticking with it.